Disclaimer: I don't own Rurouni Kenshin... all of the characters belong to Watsuki Nobuhiro.

Chapter 3: Sakura

Pale and round, the moon gave a soft and barely noticeable light to the darkened night sky. A small hill overlooking a campsite glowed softly from the light. The burning bonfire from the center of the site cast long shadows outstretching into the eerie dark woods that surrounded it. Over a dozen men stood on the hill, eyeing one another and tentatively edging towards the lone red haired swordsman before them. The doubtful thoughts of whether this was the real legendary Battousai or yet another imposter lingered in their minds as they continued to edge forward cautiously.

Kenshin studied each man as they edged closer. His violet blue eyes wandered from one man to the next, studying them carefully. His mind quickly trying to determine which one of them would be the brave soul that will lead the pack in its attack. He stood up straight, calmly placing his sword back into its sheath. Slightly hunching over, he placed his right foot before him and his right hand over the sword's handle. Kenshin readied himself for the battle before him. He glanced over at Sanosuke and Katsuhiro for a brief moment before returning his attention to the men surrounding him, now beginning their attack on the three fighters.

The men rushed in on their targets in a mass of disorganization and recklessness. Kenshin stepped into his first attacker, knocking the opponent's blade up and whipping his own against the attacker's stomach. The man's eyes crossed and spittle flew from his mouth as he crashed to the floor. With barely any effort on his behalf, Kenshin dropped the rest of the men before him in a similar fashion with his sakabatô. The reverse blade sword left only bruised all over their bodies as they fell to the ground before they had the chance to bring their weapons to bear.

Sanosuke and Katsuhiro likewise, easily handled the thugs that attacked them. Though unarmed, the two friends aggressively beat their attackers down with fist and foot alike. The weapons in their attacker's hands seemed to be useless against the two former members of the Sekiho-tai Army.

Katsuhiro dodged the blow that came to his head easily. He cracked a smile. "Pathetic" he mocked his attacker. Without turning, the man elbowed him in the face. Stunned, he stepped back, gathering himself from the blow. Skillfully, he dogged the incoming swings of his attacker's attempt to pin him with the sword.

"You're not too bad," Katsuhiro glared at the man as they both backed off one an other, taking a moment to take a breath.

"Neither are you" the man smiled back wickedly, bringing his sword up. Again, the armed man attacked the raven haired ex-member of the Sekiho-tai Army. He swung his weapon wildly in a horizontal slicing fashion. Instantly, Katsuhiro dropped his body to the floor. Seeing his moment of opportunity, he gave the man a sharp blow to the stomach as he lunched himself upward. The man buckled forwards. Releasing the sword in his hands, he wrapping his arms around his abdomen as the wind was literally knocked right out of him. Quickly, Katsuhiro brought his hands together as he pounded them down on the back of the man's head with all his strength, knocking is opponent to the floor unconscious.

Through the groans and complaints of the few fallen guards who dared to attack, a lone swordsman stepped into view before Kenshin. The man's swagger boasted an arrogance of a man who has never lost a fight. His robes were dark and his hair was short and kept. The mob that had stormed from the caravan suddenly stood back as the swordsman drew his blade and readied himself.

The swordsman stepped forward, holding his blade high over his head diagonally.

Kenshin's eyes focused on the man's stance and angle of the sword, clearly recognizing the stance and its possible movements. He lowered himself closer to the ground, holding his blade out horizontally to his left as he narrowed his eyes on the tall man before him. "Let us not waste time. This one is here only for the girls. Move aside and you will not be harmed. Continue on your course however, and your safety can not be guaranteed."

"My name is Itsuwaru Ken," started the man. "I am the son of..."

"No one cares who the hell you are," Kenshin sneered as he eyed his new rival, "now make it easy on yourself and let the girls go."

"He looks really upset now," Sanosuke spoke loud enough for all the men to hear him, "last time I saw him like that he almost killed a guy." A smile crossed his face as men began to coward in fear.

Itsuwaru grinned. "Almost..." he smiled, "it's not good enough." Again, he took up his stance and readied himself for what seemed to be an interesting battle. He swiftly dashed forward and brought his blade down with incredible precision.

Kenshin deftly side-stepped the attack and shoved his elbow into Isuwara's chest. The blow, however, only made the dark-robed man smile and lift his sword once more. Itsuwaru swung his blade downward diagonally and then spun around for a follow through lunge through the middle. Kenshin was able to parry the first attack and brought his sword high, anticipating another blow from below. Unfortunately, Itsuwaru wasn't that stupid. His lunge caught Kenshin by surprise and forced the red haired wanderer to bring his blade across and side-step, causing the incoming blade to glance off Kenshin's, but slide over and slice his left arm.

Kenshin leapt backwards and took a moment to look over his arm. The wound was small yet deep. Blood ran profusely from it and it burned intensely. "You are stronger than you look."

Itsuwaru smiled and held himself at the ready. "Again?" he mocked.

The fat caravan leader chuckled out loud and couldn't stop himself from gloating over the situation.

Kenshin tore a strip of fabric from his sleeve and tied off the wound. After securing the makeshift bandage, he watched Itsuwaru and studied the blade he held. His heart slowed its beating and his eyes slid almost shut. He flipped his sword around, angling the bladed side his sakabatô outward.

Sanosuke and Katsuhiro glanced at Kenshin and then at each other, clearly lost as to what their friend was up to.

Kenshin ran at Itsuwaru with his blade leveled on his right. He stopped short of his opponent and dropped his body low before sending his blade through an upward slicing arc. Itsuwaru brought his blade up in an attempt to block the attack. The red haired man's blade sliced his opponent's sword clearly in two, shocking the dark-robed man. The Battousai instantly followed through with a quick jab of his hilt into Itsuwaru and another blow to the abdomen. Itsuwaru muttered something incoherently and fell to the ground.

Every man who still remained standing watching the fight stood in shock. Itsuwaru wasn't one to be taken lightly. More so since he had been taught swords by a former Meji Revolutionary from the Satsuma clan, fighting to over throw Emperor Tokugawa.

"Enough," hollered the caravan leader angrily, "Swords are from the days of old anyway. Introduce these three to some modern weaponry!"

The few guards that held riffles in their hands threw down their swords and began to brandish their rifles menacingly. Sounds of rifles being cocked and readied echoed for a few seconds as the three found themselves surrounded and outgunned.

Kenshin edged over to Sanosuke and Katsuhiro, keeping his hand on his hilt.

"What now?" asked Sanosuke nervously looking around.

"Wait," replied Kenshin without a worry in the world.

Katsuhiro began counting all the guns that were aimed at them. "Wait?!" his voice came in almost a shriek, "wait for what?!"

Kenshin smiled and relaxed his hand from his sword. "We are not alone." His eyes darted to the dark woods.

Before either Katsuhiro or Sanosuke could question their friend any further, armed men stormed out from the woods at great speed. Some were on horseback, others on foot. All of them wore the dark blue tell tale uniform of the police. The policemen quickly surrounded the caravan and brought their rifles to bear. "Lower your weapons at once," warned an officer leading the troupe as he rode up to the caravan's plump leader, unsheathing his sword. "You get one warning, or we'll open fire," he pointed his weapon at the short man.

Realizing that they were far outnumbered and their boss wasn't paying them enough to take a bullet, the men dropped their guns and raised their hands.

"Mr. Himura," the leading officer rode up to Kenshin, his round glasses reflected the blazing light of the bonfire in front of him. "It seems that you were able to take care of this situation on your own. We deeply thank you for your services," Chief Officer Uramurae said as he dismounted from his horse. Kenshin smiled at the young Chief. The battle had ended with no losses. The site instantly became a mass of semi confusion as the police officers gathered the men on the floor and those who had surrendered.

Looking around, Sanosuke saw the young lady who had saved Kenshin's life sitting on the floor, trembling with fear. No one had come to her aid yet. Reluctantly, he went over to help her. "Are you alright missy?" he asked her. She nodded rubbing the side of her face, which was now blue. The entire battle through she had sat in awe, watching the three men fight, never moving. "Those bastards", Sanosuke muttered lifting the girl off the floor, "what the hell did they think they were doing?"

"They were going to sell us", the young girl responded. Sanosuke looked at her inquisitively. She turned her eyes down. "They were going to sell us like slaves," she began to cry, "to anyone they pleased, our lives meant nothing to them!" She wrapped her arms around the tall man's neck as he walked to one of the doctors that the police had brought with them. Gently, he put her down. "Thank you", she finally whispered, "thank you for coming to save us."

Sanosuke smiled. "It's no problem" he responded warmly as he walked away, "take care of yourself from now on." Sanosuke searched around to find Kenshin and Katsuhiro. With the mass number of people now running around it became a bit hard to find anyone. After a bit of confusion he finally spotted out the short red haired man talking with the chief of the police force. The police Chief stood tall compared to Kenshin, his large round glasses continued to dance with the light of the bonfire. "Hey, Kenshin", he said as he walked up, "that girl that saved your life, she said that these guys are slave traders or something like that. Those bastards..."

"Yes," the Chief agreed, "two other young ladies have told us the same story. And one little boy told us that these people have kidnapped children from their homes as well." He sighed, "he also told us that most the children were threaten and beaten to never mention anything about their pasts again."

"This is horrible," Kenshin finally said after a moment of silence. "This shouldn't be happening in this new era." He closed his eyes, remembering the brutal assault that he had lived through when he was just a child.

"Brother Ken!" A familiar voice rang with delight from behind them. They all turned to look. A little girl ran out from among a group of girls that where being escorted out of a tent. Her long honey brown hair danced wildly about her shoulders with ever step she took as she pushed her way past the police officers that where trying to keep her from fleeing. Kenshin smiled as he kneeled down with his arms wide open. Ayame jumped into his arms, tightly wrapping hers around him and began to cry.

"It's alright," Kenshin reassured the nine year old girl, "you're going to be alright Ayame-chan." Kenshin looked around. He couldn't see Tsubame anywhere. "Ayame-chan, do you know if Tsubame-chan is here as well?" he asked.

"I don't know," Ayame continued to cry. Her light brown eyes began to wander around the campsite aimlessly. "I haven't seen her since yesterday."

Sanosuke sighed with relief. "At least she's here," he said looking around.

It wasn't long till Kenshin and Ayame found Tsubame. The young girl was being interrogated by one of the police officers when Ayame cried out to her. Tsubame quickly got up from her place and ran to Kenshin. She too wrapped her arms around him and began to cry. "I thought I was never going to see anyone again!" Kenshin comforted her the best he could. "I was so afraid," continued the thirteen year old girl.

Kenshin looked up at the officer, "This one will take them home now," he said. The officer nodded, he was well aware of who the man was and knew that the two girls where in safe hands. Kenshin took in the whole scene as he walked with the two girls. So many children had been kidnapped to be later sold as slaves and geishas. The whole scene brought back many painful memories of his past.

---

A week had gone by since Tsubame and Ayame returned with Sanosuke, Kenshin and Katsuhiro. The girls were showered with attention. After their arrival, Megumi was called to take a look at the two girls and at Kenshin's arm. Now, Dr. Gensi wouldn't let one girl leave the clinic without the other and Tsubame was now always accompanied when leaving the restaurant. Everything was getting back to normal. However, four days after they had returned, Kenshin left the dojo without saying a word.

"When do you think Kenshin is coming back?" Yahiko asked as the warm afternoon dragged on.

"Whenever he wants to", Sanosuke sat down on the narrow veranda overlooking the back yard. "You know him, he has to uphold justice were ever he can." He laid down on the board walkway, cradling the back of his head in his arms. "Besides, he'll be alright."

"So there are more then one of those caravans?" Kaoru inquired brushing back her long black hair.

"Ya," Sanosuke closed his eyes, "They're spread all over Japan. Kidnapping kids and selling them as slaves to anyone they want to. Including foreigners."

"So why didn't you go, you lazy bum?" Yahiko scowled.

Sanosuke looked up at Yahiko with a frown. "Going out of my way to bring people happiness isn't one of my turn-ons, runt. Besides, if you think something like that needs a helping hand, why don't you go?" The young boy frowned. "I thought so," Sanosuke growled, "Anyways police all over Japan have been warned of this situation. They don't need my help."

"I hope he's alright" Kaoru said gently, "I hope he comes back safely."

"You never know when this one might have to go again." Kenshin smiled at Kaoru as he closed the door behind him.

"Kenshin..." she sighed.

---

Three weeks have gone since Kenshin set out by himself in search of the numerous caravans that wandered Japan, kidnapping and selling children. Spring was almost over. The heat and rain of the summer season were barely beginning. Yahiko had begun to complain more often about his new chores, now having to take on the washing of the laundry as well.

"Kenshin better get back soon," he muttered under his breath as he continued to wash cloths.

"Why are you upset?" Ayame asked cheerfully, "Brother Ken said its fun to wash laundry!"

"Ya, fun!" Suzume chimed in. The two girls had been watching him all morning long.

"Right... fun... sure..." he continued scrubbing. He looked over at Ayame and Suzume. The days had grown too hot for the two girls to be playing around the yard so they were sitting with Sanosuke on the engawa right outside the guest room. "Why don't you help, you bum?"

Sanosuke looked over. "I wash my own laundry back home" a wicked smile crossed his face. Suzume began to tug on the white sleeve of his arm. "Besides, can't you see I'm busy here?" The two girls looked up at Sanosuke with glee as they continued their board game. Since Kenshin wasn't around they somehow managed to get Sanosuke to play with them every time he visited, although he wasn't very good with children and even worst when it came to playing games that required thinking. Suzume tugged on his arm again. "Alright!" he forced an annoyed smile on his face as he looked down at the little girl, pondering his next move on the board.

"Hey! Look everyone!" Kaoru's voice rang from the front as she ran into the back yard. "I got a letter! It's from Kenshin!" She held up a letter in one hand and pulled up her kimono in the other as she ran across the yard to where Sanosuke and the two girls were sitting.

"Brother Ken wrote to us!" the seven year old Suzume jumped up. "What does is say?" she asked cheerfully. Kaoru sat down on the edge of the engawa, neatly tucking her kimono under her as the two girls gathered on each side of her. Yahiko shock his hands dry, leaving the laundry to join the others on the narrow veranda.

"To everyone at the Kamiya Dojo," Kaoru began reading out loud, "This one is sorry to have departed without uttering a single word. This one is not sure when, but my return to Tokyo will be soon. My apologies for having worried any of you." Kaoru paused for a moment and smiled. "He's finally coming back," she sighed with relief.

"Hey, what does that say?" Sanosuke questioned pointing to the end of the letter.

"A request of you Miss Kaoru," she continued to read, "Would you be as kind enough to accept another person into your home? This one will deeply appreciate it. Thank you." Kaoru stared at the letter.

"Looks like this ran down dojo is turning into a homeless shelter," Sanosuke snickered. A sharp pain ripped through his arm. He jumped back at the sudden sensation. Kaoru had pinched him with all her might.

"How dare you insult my home!" she hissed at him.

"Take it easy! It was just a joke!" Sanosuke rolled up his sleeve. A bright red spot marked the place where Kaoru had taken the liberty to pinch him. He rubbed his arm frowning at the nineteen year old woman.

"I wonder who he's bringing back..." Yahiko questioned himself looking down at the letter. They all looked at each other, not having the slightest idea who Kenshin could possibly want to bring back with him from his travels.

---

The small group retuned to the Kamiya Kasshin-Ryû Dojo after a good dinner at the Akabeko. Kaoru opened the wooden door allowing Megumi, Dr. Gensi, the two girls, Sanosuke, and Yahiko to enter. Slowly they made their way into the small greeting hall of the house. The candles lighted the room with a soft light as everyone sat down to relax for the rest of the evening.

Two weeks had gone by since she had received Kenshin's letter and still he was no where to be seen. "Kenshin..." she sighed softly.

"What's that noise?" Sanosuke looked up at the shôji doors. The talking in the room subsided as everyone's eyes followed Sanosuke's. Quietly he got up, walking slowly to the door he continued to listen. Footsteps could be heard approaching as the wooden floor creaked with each step taken on the narrow veranda outside.

Kaoru felt her heart beat faster. There had never been any incident in the dojo when someone had broken in. There literally was nothing worth stealing at the dojo. She watched as the shôji door slid open. The dim moonlight silhouetted a short figure in the doorway for a few seconds. Kenshin stood on the veranda looking in. A warm smile crossed his face as he glanced at the small group that had gathered.

"Good evening," he said.

"You idiot!" Sanosuke brought down his fist on Kenshin's head, knocking him down to the floor, "I was about to beat you up!"

"Ooorrrooo...." Kenshin muttered as he lay in on the floor.

"Are you alright?" a voice came from the shadows of the engawa Kenshin laid in.

He sat up. "It's aright Sakura-chan," he looked up behind him, rubbing the back of his head. Sanosuke slid open the other door of the room. A young girl stood looking down at the red haired man on the floor.

"Hey, who is that?" Yahiko pointed at the girl.

Kenshin stood up, placing his hands on the young girl's shoulders he smiled. "This is my daughter. Himura Sakura."

---

A/N: Ya... I actually had time to sit and reread & rework this fic. I'm so happy. Anyways, thank you Dragon King for bringing to my attention the whole "" thing... I really didn't know anything at all about that, so thanks a bunch for clearing that up with me

As for Kenshin's past... that really doesn't begin 'til chapter 5.... yes, you have 1 more chapters to read until I actually post up the chapters about his past! WAHAHAHAHAHAA!!! And as you can now see, chapters 1-3 were just to set things up for Sakura's intro (which sparks a load of questions to the rest of the characters). Anyways, thanks for your comments and I hope you keep enjoying the read 6